3 Must-Dos After Being Hit By a Drunk Driver

Everyone knows drinking and driving is dangerous. Every driver is taught about the risks that come with getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. Unfortunately, it still happens all too often. If you were hit by a drunk driver, you might be in shock from the accident, but you need to keep as cool a head as possible. The following are some things you need to do.

  1. Contact the Authorities

Although you should do this for every accident you are in, it’s especially beneficial when the other driver is drunk. In most cases, the officer will arrest the driver so he or she will be removed from the street and not pose a harm to anyone else. The officer will also make a report of the accident, and his or her account could go a long way in court to help you win your case against the drunk driver.

Sometimes when people are intoxicated, they can get quite agitated, and sometimes dangerous. This is another reason to contact the authorities. If the situation escalates, and the drunk driver starts to cause more trouble, the officer will be there to calm things down and take control of the situation.

  1. Collect All the Evidence Possible

Although you’ll have a police report and witnesses from the scene of the accident, there is more evidence you’ll need. Your lawyer probably has investigators he or she can employ to track down some of the information you will want to help your case. This includes statements from the bartender where the individual had been drinking. It could include friends he or she had been drinking with at a party. It could also include other drivers or pedestrians who had issues with the drunk driver a few minutes prior to the accident.

Your lawyer might also be able to get a hold of surveillance videos. This might be in the form of a traffic camera, a dashcam, a nearby business’s security camera or a variety of other types of surveillance. Cameras are everywhere, so it should be fairly easy to track something down.

  1. Notify the Insurance Companies Involved

You should contact your insurance company to let them know you were in an accident. Even though it wasn’t your fault and your insurance coverage shouldn’t be impacted, there’s a chance the other driver will try to point blame your way. If that happens, your insurer could get contacted. You should also notify the drunk driver’s insurance company that you intend to file a claim.

Get In Touch With a Lawyer

Your lawyer can do wonders when you are involved in a car accident case involving a drunk driver. Get in touch with a car accident lawyer, like the offices of MartinWren, P.C., to learn more.